Hi Everyone
Since the last post we spent one more day in Chania, Hania to the locals, and we did what we always avoid and that was to go on the typical tourist tour. It was a sunset cruise from Chania Harbour and it was only for an hour and thought why not give it a go. We boarded a lovely old sailing boat and motored out of the harbour went about 400 metres around a small island about the size of a soccer field and dropped anchor. Watched the sun go down and motored back. Now we know why we don't do tours.
Got up early to be faced with another treacherous road trip this time to the hydrofoil- 140k of sheer terror which took 2 hours. Driving etc doesn't bother me USUALLY but we went on the transfer from hell. It took us about 2 hours driving on the windiest mountain roads with a driver who was falling asleep and driving like a maniac. I had my finger on the seat belt release button just in case god only knows what I was going to do and Mez finally asked him to slow down. It was horrendous to say the least.
Arrived at the port of Santorini to absolute mayhem. Took one look at the track to the top and thought here we go again. Hundreds of people leaving and arriving from ships and hydrofoils, taxis, buses, motorbike taxis no organisation anywhere.
First impressions of Santorini - dry, barren, dusty, sparsely populated, a lot larger, nothing like the postcard pics.
Hotel cute and clean and we finally got our bearings and found the "real Santorini".
Day 2- caught the local bus to Perivolas Beach on the south-east corner of the island. Nothing can compete with our beaches but the water here is aqua blue and so clear. Sand? well that's what they call it this beach had black tiny pebbles for sand and it was super hot, no walking on this without thongs even for the toughest of them all. Mez got a massage and I got a tatoo how touristy is that?
Food here in Santorini typical Greek and a bit too fattening so we went to the supermarket and made our first home cooked meal- tuna, tomatoes, cucumber, can of corn and lemon juice.
Day 3- did our usual walk but headed down to the remote farms on the east side of the island, very hot, dry and remote - Mez feeling a little uneasy but as always when you walk downhill the trek back in 200 degree heat is a little exhausting to say the least. Headed to Kamari Beach on the east side, a little windy, well a lot windy, beach didn't have small black pebbles it had large black pebbles like the ones I have on my back area at home. It was really funny at one stage I went for a swim and because of the roughness of the pebbles and the fact that I was laughing so much I could not get out of the water. Mez managed to get some pics of this and of course you are not going to get a look at them.
Day4 - Massive walk to the north of the island absolutely beautiful scenery all the way, walked past where all the rich and famous stay right on the caldera - the basin where you see all the Santorini white and blue buildings stacked on top of each other. Got to the top and had to frantically find a toilet for Mez, yes she had the Bali belly in Santorini. Got back showered and caught bus to Oia where you are supposed to see the best sunsets on the island. This was another frightening trip as the road to Oia is totally mountainous and of course we had the front seat where you could see straight down the sides of the mountain and the usual 1000 bends. Walked around had lunch and got next bus back too touristy for us- BIG day. But we cant be in a place and not get ripped off and it happened with our last dinner....... to be continued have to get to the airport for Athens.
Before I go just to let you know, due to the limited washing facilities and how easy it is to get ripped off, we have two new sayings -' can get another wear out of that' and 'the friendlier they are the more likely they are to rip you off'.
View from bus ride to Oia and the other face of Santorini |
Sunset at Chania |
Cooking facilities |
Trying to order healthy tuna salad to have it served with HEAPS of mayo |
View from room at Santorini |
Beach at Perivolos |
The Santorini in all the pics |
The view on the way up to Santorini from the port |
The road up |
First home cooked meal(well not cooked created as Trace would say) from outside our room |
Looks beautiful but where is the photo of the tat????? lol
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